David Price vs Tony Thompson this weekend

[ILikeBeer]

How do people see this going?

[TopGun]

Hope it goes more than 6 rounds. I see Price winning by KO, he isn't as gun shy as Wlad. I may be getting carried away with big Dave but I genuinely rate him.

Price by KO round 5.

[pyenest77]

I agree when Price opens up he has some seriously heavy hands.

[MightyWarrior]

Thompson on his way up wasn't bad, a decent journeyman, good enough in a terrible HW division to be given 2 shots at an always generous Wlad.
But he looked like a man ready for the rocking chair against Wlad last time - passively pushing out gentle punches until Wlad bundles him over and that's that. Thanks very much, how much do I get ?

No wonder Maloney scrambled to sign him in a hurry after that perfomance.

Frank has to be very careful with Big Dave, as he knows, in the back of his mind, that Price is very likely a bit chinny.
To have a heavy that big, that dedicated, with a huge punch? It would be a miracle if he had a great chin too. That sort of combination only comes around once in a lifetime.

TT won't be getting another go around with the Klit's, and won't really have much to go for here. When Price starts crashing a few big shots in, round 2 or 3, he'll drop to the canvas pretty quick, wait for the 10 count, then bounce up looking shocked it's all over.

[ILikeBeer]

Thompson on his way up wasn't bad, a decent journeyman, good enough in a terrible HW division to be given 2 shots at an always generous Wlad.
But he looked like a man ready for the rocking chair against Wlad last time - passively pushing out gentle punches until Wlad bundles him over and that's that. Thanks very much, how much do I get ?

No wonder Maloney scrambled to sign him in a hurry after that perfomance.

Frank has to be very careful with Big Dave, as he knows, in the back of his mind, that Price is very likely a bit chinny.
To have a heavy that big, that dedicated, with a huge punch? It would be a miracle if he had a great chin too. That sort of combination only comes around once in a lifetime.

TT won't be getting another go around with the Klit's, and won't really have much to go for here. When Price starts crashing a few big shots in, round 2 or 3, he'll drop to the canvas pretty quick, wait for the 10 count, then bounce up looking shocked it's all over.

As far as I can tell, Price's chin has never been tested. And the longer it takes before it is tested, the more it says about his quality as a fighter.

Sometimes doubts over a boxers chin can be a good thing. If you go through your whole career without it being tested, that's actually impressive.

[SamWise72]

AFAIK, the whole "chinny" thing is based on a single knockdown against Camarelle in the Olympics. I don't have any reason to think he has a magnificent beard, but I think rather two much weight is put on that.

[straali]

I would say there is more actual evidence of Wlad Klitchko being chinny than there is for Price. However, since getting past his earlier career crisis, Wlad has barely taken a potentially concussive blow to that chin due to his excellent jab and a safety-first approach. Don't see why Price can't continue to progress his own career in the same vein....he is always in excellent physical condition, has a good jab himself and can definitely bang.
Can't see Thompson being good enough to derail the Price bandwagon at this stage....

[SteveDow]

AFAIK, the whole "chinny" thing is based on a single knockdown against Camarelle in the Olympics. I don't have any reason to think he has a magnificent beard, but I think rather two much weight is put on that.

Totally agree. I appreciate he is yet to face any world class opponents but too much store is set on the idea of Price having a dodgy chin. He has developed hugely in a physical sense since the Olympics and said he has put on over two stone of muscle since 2008. That has to help in terms of punch resistence and until he shows chin vulnerabilities as a pro I don't see it as a big issue. Without wanting to turn it into a Price v Fury thread, I'd be more worried about Fury's dodgy chin as a pro given how heavily he went down against Pajkic and how much trouble he was in against Firtha (two non-punchers).

[ILikeBeer]

I think it's safe to say that assuming that he has a poor chin, just because he has a big punch isn't the most reliable proof.

[crusader]

AFAIK, the whole "chinny" thing is based on a single knockdown against Camarelle in the Olympics. I don't have any reason to think he has a magnificent beard, but I think rather two much weight is put on that.

He was knocked down three times by Varghese Johnson in the Commonwealth Games, he was knocked down by a Welsh fighter in the Four Nations tournament, he appeared to have been knocked down by Fury in the ABAs, he was knocked out by Bermane Stiverne in the Tammer Tournament, and he was stopped by Cammarelle in the Olympics. In the pros he was rocked in debut by a journeyman, though to be fair he wasn't expecting the punch.

He may not be chinny, but there is plenty of evidence that he may be chinny; it's not a baseless belief.

[Horse]

He was knocked down three times by Varghese Johnson in the Commonwealth Games, he was knocked down by a Welsh fighter in the Four Nations tournament, he appeared to have been knocked down by Fury in the ABAs, he was knocked out by Bermane Stiverne in the Tammer Tournament, and he was stopped by Cammarelle in the Olympics. In the pros he was rocked in his pro fight by a journeyman, though to be fair his head was turned.

He may not be chinny, but there is plenty of evidence that he may be chinny; it's not a baseless belief.

The "there is no evidence Price is chinny" people need to shut the hell up.

[crusader]

And I'd like to point out that knockdowns and hard stoppages are rare at the higher levels of amateur boxing.

Again, that doesn't mean that Price must be chinny, but it legitimately raises the question and provides support for the argument that he is chinny.

[crusader]

I would say there is more actual evidence of Wlad Klitchko being chinny than there is for Price. However, since getting past his earlier career crisis, Wlad has barely taken a potentially concussive blow to that chin due to his excellent jab and a safety-first approach. Don't see why Price can't continue to progress his own career in the same vein....he is always in excellent physical condition, has a good jab himself and can definitely bang.
Can't see Thompson being good enough to derail the Price bandwagon at this stage....

An important difference between Wlad and Price is foot speed. One of the keys to Wlad's success is his ability to move back very quickly before an opponent can get into striking range. Haye, possibly the fastest heavyweight, noted that this was a key reason his success was limited against Wlad.

Price seems to have a good jab, impressive power, and solid technique, but in my opinion his hands, and more importantly his feet, are discernibly slower than Wlad's, and he isn't able to prevent opponents from getting into striking range as well as Wlad does; Skelton got on the inside multiple times and McDermott made it in at least once, though Price dropped him with an uppercut. Price also seems more willing to fight on the inside, and he doesn't stick to boxing on the outside as rigidly as Wlad does.

It may be that Price has more power and better inside fighting than Wlad does, but the significance of former difference is reduced if opponents still have an easier time getting on the inside against Price than against Wlad, and the latter difference is insignificant in my opinion because Wlad is a master of tying up, which almost entirely makes up for his lack of an inside game.

[lillywhite14]

Pricey is seemingly becoming this almost mythical legend of a fighter!

'No evidence that he might have a dodgy chin'

There is plenty, as pointed out above. It's not exactly hard to find either.

I look forward to following the man, I hope he goes all the way and think he is a really genuine chap. Not sure he will though.

'Wlad is more gunshy'

Come on chaps. Wlad was very willing when he was at Price's stage and fighting stiffs. In fact, Wlad was borderline reckless at that stage. Wait until Pricey reaches the top level and is fighting guys who could take him out with one shot, assuming he reaches that level of course. Then we can see if he adjusts and adds a bit of caution...

The Wlad comparisons do him no favours.

[lillywhite14]

I would say there is more actual evidence of Wlad Klitchko being chinny than there is for Price. However, since getting past his earlier career crisis, Wlad has barely taken a potentially concussive blow to that chin due to his excellent jab and a safety-first approach. Don't see why Price can't continue to progress his own career in the same vein....he is always in excellent physical condition, has a good jab himself and can definitely bang.
Can't see Thompson being good enough to derail the Price bandwagon at this stage....

An important difference between Wlad and Price is foot speed. One of the keys to Wlad's success is his ability to move back very quickly before an opponent can get into striking range. Haye, possibly the fastest heavyweight, noted that this was a key reason his success was limited against Wlad.

Price seems to have a good jab, impressive power, and solid technique, but in my opinion his hands, and more importantly his feet, are discernibly slower than Wlad's, and he isn't able to prevent opponents from getting into striking range as well as Wlad does; Skelton got on the inside multiple times and McDermott made it in at least once, though Price dropped him with an uppercut. Price also seems more willing to fight on the inside, and he doesn't stick to boxing on the outside as rigidly as Wlad does.

It may be that Price has more power and better inside fighting than Wlad does, but the significance of former difference is reduced if opponents still have an easier time getting on the inside against Price than against Wlad, and the latter difference is insignificant in my opinion because Wlad is a master of tying up, which almost entirely makes up for his lack of an inside game.

Wlads footwork is so overlooked its criminal.

I remember Lennox never rated him but one thing he said when commentating on him years ago was he has great footwork for a man of his size. He does.

As I say above, comparing Price to Wlad does big David no favours and he is on a hiding to nothing. Different levels.

[Alba]

Really want to see price take this in blistering fashion

[SteveDow]

And I'd like to point out that knockdowns and hard stoppages are rare at the higher levels of amateur boxing.

Again, that doesn't mean that Price must be chinny, but it legitimately raises the question and provides support for the argument that he is chinny.

As an amateur yes but that was years ago. He has never once been troubled as a pro and whilst I accept his level of opposition has not been great I really don't think his chin is as dodgy as people make out. Let's discuss his chin when he gets clocked properly as a pro and making a case based on his amateur career which was 5/6 years ago now is a bit pointless in my view. He's a different fighter now and a much better athlete.

[crusader]

And I'd like to point out that knockdowns and hard stoppages are rare at the higher levels of amateur boxing.

Again, that doesn't mean that Price must be chinny, but it legitimately raises the question and provides support for the argument that he is chinny.

As an amateur yes but that was years ago. He has never once been troubled as a pro and whilst I accept his level of opposition has not been great I really don't think his chin is as dodgy as people make out. Let's discuss his chin when he gets clocked properly as a pro and making a case based on his amateur career which was 5/6 years ago now is a bit pointless in my view. He's a different fighter now and a much better athlete.

How often does someone go from consistently showing serious chin problems in the amateurs, in which headgear and impact reducing gloves are worn, to showing a decent chin as a professional, in which no headgear and non-impact reducing gloves are worn? If there are cases, they're probably anomalies, and I don't see why all the instances of Price being hurt should be discounted simply because they happened years ago.

Price hasn't been troubled as a pro, but that may simply be because no opponents have landed good shots on him, which may stem from the relatively low quality of his opponents rather than him being the world-class destroyer that many seem to think he is or will surely become.

[lillywhite14]

He was still a fully grown adult when he was getting bounced off the canvas with every punch Cammarelle landed back in the Olympics.

It has to be taken in to consideration if we are looking at him from all angles.

I remember watching footage of Tua getting poleaxed by Savon as an am yet the Tuaman had a very good chin as a pro. Difference is though Savon was supreme and Tua was barely out of nappies when that took place, barely 17 I think.

[crusader]

And Tua, to my knowledge, wasn't also floored countless times and stopped hard on other occasions.

Again, Price's chin may be fine, but it's absurd to suggest that there is no evidence that he has a poor chin, and that the countless instances in which he was dropped or stopped are irrelevant to judgements about how good his chin may be.

[SteveDow]

And Tua, to my knowledge, wasn't also floored countless times and stopped hard on other occasions.

Again, Price's chin may be fine, but it's absurd to suggest that there is no evidence that he has a poor chin, and that the countless instances in which he was dropped or stopped are irrelevant to how good his chin may be.

Which is why I essentially said that judgment needs to be reserved as to his chin until we see it tested as a pro. He may or may not be chinny but some on here seem convinced that he can't take a shot based solely on his amateur career which was many years ago now. I don't believe his chin is as much of a problem as others do but to dismiss him as a knock out waiting to happen is overly premature.

[crusader]

I don't think that suspicion or questioning needs to be reserved, given how often he looked fragile in the amateurs, in which knockdowns and knockouts are relatively uncommon at high levels of competition.

I agree, however, that certain conclusions (e.g. "his chin is definitely made of glass") are premature, as it cannot yet be shown that he still has chin issues, even though there is a realistic possibility that he does.

[SteveDow]

I don't think that suspicion or questioning needs to be reserved, given how often he looked fragile in the amateurs, in which knockdowns and knockouts are relatively uncommon at high levels of competition.

I do agree, though, that certain conclusions (e.g. "his chin is definitely made of glass") are premature, as it cannot yet be shown that he still has chin issues, even though there is a realistic possibility that he does.

Either way, this weekend should give us a bit more of an indication of where Price is. Despite what most on here suggest, Thompson is a very big step up for Price, having only ever lost to Wlad and one loss very early in his career. He can also punch and I'll be very impressed if Price despatches him with ease.

[Horse]

Despite what most on here suggest, Thompson is a very big step up for Price, having only ever lost to Wlad and one loss very early in his career. He can also punch and I'll be very impressed if Price despatches him with ease.

Don't most on here think Thompson is a step up for Price?

If Price beats Thompson he will be ranked a top 10 or 15 contender by most (I predict).

[SteveDow]

Despite what most on here suggest, Thompson is a very big step up for Price, having only ever lost to Wlad and one loss very early in his career. He can also punch and I'll be very impressed if Price despatches him with ease.

Don't most on here think Thompson is a step up for Price?

If Price beats Thompson he will be ranked a top 10 or 15 contender by most (I predict).

I think a fair few on here seem to think Thompson is washed up and that beating him is not a big achievement and I can almost guarantee that when Price does beat him there will be people who suggest that it shows us nothing more about Price than we already know.